CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is hiring a Child Protection Specialist to help protect children and support families. The role involves preparing and maintaining reports, assessments, and case documentation; coordinating child placements in substitute care; presenting case information for transfer to permanency or intact/prevention caseworkers; and attending multidisciplinary conferences to assess needed services. The specialist also transports clients in connection with protective custody and placement activities. This position is based at 1101 Eastport Plaza Dr, Collinsville, Illinois, and is designated for a hybrid schedule, with 2 to 5 days per week in the office depending on operational needs. Standard listed work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; overtime may be required, including evenings and weekends, and the position requires availability for 24-hour on-call duty.
Requirements
- A master's degree in social work; or a master's degree in a related human service field, criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and one year of directly related professional experience; or a bachelor's degree in social work and one year of directly related professional experience; or a bachelor's degree in a related human service field, criminal justice, criminal justice administration, or law enforcement and two years of directly related professional experience.
- The college or university issuing the bachelor's or master's degree must be accredited, and a social work degree program must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education.
- Valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
- Ability to pass a background check.
- Physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
- Ability to work overtime, including evenings and weekends, and to serve in a 24-hour on-call capacity.
Nice To Haves
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Strong leadership and communication capabilities.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a Child Protection Specialist.
- Prepare and maintain reports, assessments, and case documentation.
- Select, summarize, and present case material for transfer to a permanency caseworker or an intact/prevention caseworker.
- Determine the need for and coordinate placement of children in substitute care facilities.
- Attend multidisciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services.
- Transport clients when taking protective custody, placing them in substitute care, and changing their placement location.
- Perform other duties reasonably within the scope of the listed duties.
Benefits
- Pension program
- Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance
- 3 paid personal business days annually
- 12 paid sick days annually, with carryover from year to year
- 10–25 days of paid vacation annually, with 10 days in the first year of employment
- 13 paid holidays annually, and 14 in even-numbered years
- Flexible work schedules when available and dependent upon position
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave
- Deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan
- Optional pre-tax medical care and dependent care assistance plans
- Eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Eligibility for GI Bill training/apprenticeship benefits for qualifying veterans
- 5% salary differential for bilingual positions
- Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
